Founders of Stences: Thea Christence Bækkelund and her motherCan you share a bit about yourself and your background?
I (Thea) have an AP degree in Visual Communication Design. Right before graduating, I landed my first job as a graphic designer at a large Danish home interior brand. Working there for some time, I was lucky to be sent on a course in 3D design and rendering, where I learned the technical part of product design. After the course, I began designing and developing new home interior products within multiple different product categories, which gave me a lot of knowledge about different materials, etc.
During Covid-19, we spent a lot of time together as a family, engaging in many deep talks about life. We began discussing the importance of feeling good in your home and how crucial it is to be surrounded by things that bring you joy every day. I found myself at a point where I was ready for a new chapter career-wise, but I never really felt like I fit into the regular 9-5 schedule, as my ideas often appear out of the blue.
For a few years, my parents had dreamt of starting something together, and suddenly everything just fit together. Stences is founded and run by my mother, Pia, and me. “Stences” is short for “Christence”, which is our shared middle name. We are named after my great-grandmother (Pia’s grandmother). My daughter Ella shares the middle name.
Can you walk us through your creative process?
The idea generation varies a lot - sometimes an idea is crystal clear in my head, and sometimes it is a long, crooked process. I honestly find inspiration everywhere, any time. My brain is quite “funky” and kind of just automatically absorbs shapes, colors, and textures into its own big library. When I develop new products it is an outcome of everything from that “library”/idea bank mixed together. Often inspiration comes from architecture, nature or things/colors/patterns discovered when traveling. I take lots of pictures all the time, so whenever I feel uninspired, I just browse through my camera roll and the ideas start rolling again. To give you a picture of the actual development process of pretty much any product:
- Collecting inspiration
- Idea generation and hand-sketching with pencil and paper
- 3D drawing and digital rendering
- Technical drawing / technical sheet for our supplier
- Communicating with our supplier and listening to their advice/feedback
- Supplier develops prototypes for our approval
- Production. Living in Denmark, renowned for its design heritage, has significantly influenced my design approach. The Danish emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and a strong connection to nature has become ingrained in my creative process, adding a personal, playful twist to my work.
Stences icon candleholders in the makingDo you have any recommendations on how people should use/pair them?
My approach to design is playful; I love exploring whimsical shapes and colors, believing they lend each object a unique look and feel. I don't believe in strict rules for mixing and matching products with interiors. Personally, I enjoy blending contrasting materials, like our Icon Candleholders in industrial steel with soft, organic vases. These combinations add a personal touch to home décor. I aim to create timeless objects with a playful touch, versatile enough to suit any mood or style.
I also love pairing new designs with vintage pieces. In my home, I combine our products with inherited vases and décor from my grandmother, alongside finds from vintage shops. As for my proudest creation, it's the Bubble Candlestick. Inspired by my toddler's love for soap bubbles, I noticed how they formed cloud-like shapes, leading to the idea of a crystal candleholder. Handcrafted, each piece is unique, adding a living touch to the design.
Any advice for aspiring designers ?
For aspiring designers, my advice is to stay curious and open-minded. Experiment and embrace mistakes, as they often lead to breakthroughs. Stay true to your vision, be open to feedback, but trust your instincts. Authenticity is key. And most importantly, have fun while creating!